Melrose

The town back home.

Today I had a short recovery day. I had a slight headache and went to sleep as soon as I got home. However, no need for me to complain about my aches and pains. Tomorrow I need to start making work for a small hometown show I plan to sell pots at. The little town is called Susquehanna. Susquehanna used to be a large railroad town, and now it is just a small town with an amazing history; they attempt to connect back to it from time to time. My family is from the area. Grandma and Grandpa lived next door to us, and Uncle Will and Aunt Barb lived there in the valley as well.

We lived in Melrose, PA. Melrose, PA, is about 5 miles from Susquehanna. I swam in Starrucca Creek, which runs through Melrose. I learned to swim and ice skate on that creek. Once, when I was little, my father and I were preparing to go ice skating. I had these little double-blade skates that strap on your boots. I must have been about 5 years old. On zipping up my snow suit, the zipper caught the skin on my neck. My father and mother were not sure why I would cry out when I went to walk. On inspection, they found the zipper not zipped, but caught. I was now crying bloody murder. My parents carried me to Grandma and Grandpa’s, just up the road and up a hill.

Grandma laid me on my back on the kitchen table and went to work trying to see if she could do anything. I remember pliers being involved. Grandma tried everything, but then decided it might be best to go to the emergency room at the little hospital in Susquehanna and have the zipper removed. The doctor had a wall of trophies of things he had detached from people. After some time, I was free of my snowsuit and feeling better. We went back to ice skating for the rest of the day.

Dad had this talent. He could stand on his head. One day, way back up at grandma’s and grandpa’s, dad did the trick, and we all laughed. Then my sister and I tried to learn the trick. We had to balance just right, Dad said. We would almost get it down, but would fall over. However, with a bit of help, I was able to balance for a short time. I am not sure what this writing has to do with clay, but I am very thankful for the kind and loving parents I had, and also grandparents, uncles, and aunts. We are all very close to each other and visit quite often. At times, we would even work with my aunt and uncle at the farms they tried to run. These were great times, and I learned so much about how to be kind and remember what it might be like to have little money but a lot of love.

If I were living yesterday a second time:

I would have visited back home today.

Things I am grateful for:

A great home life growing up.

If I get to live to be 86, I only have:

12998 days left.